Archive for the ‘Press Releases’ Category

Posted on October 2, 2008 - by Frank

Bailout for Wall St? What About the Poorest?

WITH the meltdown of international banking and credit filling investors with dread, developed nations are using the crisis to legitimise backing away from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), said TEAR Fund Executive Director Stephen Tollestrup.

The MDGs signed by 189 nations promised to halve poverty for the poorest of our planet’s people by 2015 and increase aid to 0.7 per cent of their countries GDPs.

“The truth is”, says, Mr Tollestrup, “the MDGs go well beyond a handout. If we dare to think outside of the square we will find that we need to see productive and growing economies in the developing world to help us move out of this current mess and bring long term economic stability.

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Posted on September 2, 2008 - by Frank

TEAR Fund Commits Aid to India Flood Victims

TEAR Fund is committing $80,000 to bring relief to the displaced millions following the worst flooding in 50 years, in India’s state of Bihar.

TEAR Fund’s partner in India, the Evangelical Fellowship of India Commission on Relief (EFICOR) is experienced in disaster relief, having responded to most of the worst disasters to hit India over the past three decades. A team is already assessing the situation and will provide much needed water, shelter, medicines and food as families flock to relief camps across one of poorest states in India.

TEAR Fund senior programmes officer, Bernard Gomes says while the death toll is not high at present, it is a huge disaster in terms of displacing more than 2 million people.
“These people have an uncertain future as their hopes and dreams have been swept away. It is now a race against time to make sure others don’t die from secondary killers such as waterborne diseases. The floods have also destroyed vital crops and killed livestock, adding to the pain, and this will have a ripple effect across India given the current global food crisis. “

TEAR Fund’s partner is co-ordinating its efforts with other aid agencies and the Indian Government to ensure an effective response and that there is no duplication of aid.

Posted on August 29, 2008 - by Frank

Watoto Choir in New Zealand

Vibrant costumes, infectious smiles and stories that will move and inspire you – the Watoto Children’s Choir from Uganda will visit Auckland and it is an event not to miss.

The 18 boys and girls in the choir, all aged between seven and 13, are orphans and are being raised through the Watoto project in Uganda. However, this is not a concert of despair. Watoto Child Care Ministries in Kampala, Uganda, was founded in 1992 to provide homes for parentless children. Watoto now cares for more than 1700 children, placing them into safe and loving families of eight foster brothers and sisters.

Local Christian aid and development agency, TEAR Fund has been fundraising and organising Watoto events since 2004.

A Watoto concert is full of music, dance and song. TEAR Fund Event’s manager Andrew Robinson said the choir is a testimony to the positive change that can be effected when people choose to invest in the lives of the poor. “It’s a fun event for the whole family and you are guaranteed to leave with your feet dancing and your heart touched by these vivacious children,” Mr Robinson said.

The Watoto choir and project has become well-known around the world and over recent years the choir has performed for the Queen at Buckingham Palace, and for US President George Bush.

Watoto Child Care Ministries is expanding its project into northern Uganda, previously closed due to the atrocities of war. The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has been raiding villages, killing parents and abducting children who are forced into service as soldiers. It is estimated that as many as 50,000 children have been abducted in Northern Uganda. They are establishing a similar village in Gulu to help care and rehabilitate these young victims of war.

The concert with the Watoto children is a free event and all are welcome to attend. Donations are gratefully received with all proceeds going to help care for parentless and at-risk children in Uganda. The expenses of running the tour are covered by the sale of Watoto merchandise including CDs and African jewellery.

Free Concert Dates

Manurewa
7pm
Saturday September 6
Manurewa Marae
81 Findlayson Ave, Manurewa

Glenfield
10.30am
Sunday, September 7
Life City Church, 16B Poland Road, Glenfield, North Shore

Avondale
6.30pm
Sunday September 7
Encounter Christian Centre, 495 Rosebank Road, Avondale

Te Awamutu
7.30pm
Tuesday September 9
Te Awamutu Bible Chapel, Chapel Drive, Te Awamutu

Tauranga
7pm
Wednesday September 10
Bethlehem College Auditorium, 24 Elder Lane, Bethlehem

Warkworth
7pm
Tuesday, September 16
Lifeway College, 20 Goodall Road, Snells Beach

Doubtless Bay
7pm
Wednesday September 17
Doubtless Bay Christian Centre
7 Mill Bay Road, Doubtless Bay, Northland

Kerikeri
7pm
Thursday September 18
Frontline Christian Centre, 119 Hone Heke Rd

Whangarei
7pm
Friday September 19
St Pauls Kamo Co-op Parish, Corner Boswell Street and Station Road, Kamo, Whangarei

Pakuranga
7pm
Saturday September 20
Eastgate Christian Centre, 5 Ben Lomond Crescent

Auckland Central
10am, 5pm, & 7pm
Sunday September 21
C3: Christian City Church, 145 Newton Rd, Eden Terrace

Posted on July 24, 2008 - by Frank

UN & Fiji Work Together to Find Ways to End Violence Against Women

Fiji along with 9 other countries has been selected for a United Nations pilot project on Violence Against Women. Participants from government, civil society, including faith based organizations, the UN and AusAid are at a three day workshop, which is in the final day today, to deliberate on a report on Fiji with regard to this issue; and the way forward.

By 2010, the UN intends to have established joint programming on violence against women through pilot programmes in 10 countries. A Task Force has been set up following the UN Secretary-General’s in-depth study on Violence against Women mandated by the UN General Assembly resolution 58/185. They will provide enhanced support to national level efforts under a multi-stakeholder joint programming framework that will involve governments, civil societies, UN agencies, and donors.

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Posted on July 14, 2008 - by Frank

Sundance Institute Documentary Program Announces Spring 2008 Grants

This just received from Brooks Addicott at the Sundance Institute:

Global Stories Resonate With International Talent

Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program announced 16 film projects to receive financial and creative support from the Sundance Documentary Fund. Out of 325 applications working in more than 52 countries, the 16 feature-length documentary films selected will receive a total of $512,500 in support for emerging and established filmmakers. The Sundance Documentary Film Program supports U.S. and international documentary filmmakers who explore the critical issues of our times with highly crafted storytelling and stylistic innovation.

Films funded in this round tell stories of the emotional impact of the death penalty, artists in exile from Burma, the largest annual migration of Chinese in the world, and Muslims in a post-9/11 world.

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Posted on May 22, 2008 - by Frank

Syria and Israel Have Entered Indirect Peace Talks

Wednesday, 21 May 2008, 9:36 pm
Press Release: Israel Government

Prime Minister’s Office

Syria And Israel Have Started Indirect Peace Talks

Syria and Israel have started indirect peace talks, under the auspices of Turkey.

The two sides stated their intention to conduct these talks in good faith and with an open mind. They decided to pursue the dialogue between them in a serious and continuous way, in order to achieve the goal of comprehensive peace in accordance with the Madrid Conference terms of reference for peace.

Both sides thanked the Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Turkey, for their role in this process and their generous hospitality.

ENDS

Note: For many this came as an unexpected announcement last night. Israel and Syria have not been engaged in peace talks for eight years, though statements suggest they have been in contact for the last year. A comprehensive agreement could be advantageous for both sides for many reasons, though there are many hurdles to be overcome, including control of the strategic Golan Heights that many Israeli’ citizens wish to retain under their administration. Syria’s place as a home base for many radical militant groups is seen as problematic as well.

Posted on May 13, 2008 - by Frank

Burma / Myanmar: TEAR Fund Press Release

TEAR Fund has just dispatched an initial $50,000 to help its partner working on the ground in Myanmar, deliver much needed aid to the desperate Burmese people.

“While the situation regarding restrictions on external workers and aid flows is totally unacceptable, charitable funding given to TEAR Fund is getting through and being used wisely and effectively in this very difficult and almost unprecedented situation, “said TEAR Fund NZ executive director, Stephen Tollestrup. “In fact our partner’s team is working 24/7, in ways I can only describe as heroic.”
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Posted on May 5, 2008 - by Frank

Female Child Soldiers: Reintegration. Free Talks

Child Soldiers: Experiences and Reintegration of Girl Soldiers

World-renowned expert on child protection Dr Mike Wessells is visiting New Zealand in early May. He is a professor at Columbia University, an advisor to the United Nations and governments, and an author of several books. His most recent book, published last year, is Child Soldiers: From Violence to Protection.
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Posted on May 4, 2008 - by Frank

NZ Human Rights Film Festival 2008

The Humanitarian Chronicle received this email regarding the New Zealand Human Rights Film Festival:

Dear Human Rights Supporter

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”

The Human Rights Network of Aotearoa is proud to present the fourth annual New Zealand Human Rights Film Festival - a cinematic event celebrating extraordinary people striving for success and achievement amidst the most difficult circumstances and conditions.

2008 is a particularly special year for the Human Rights movement as it’s the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the films shown during the festival not only celebrate how far we have come since the signing but also where work is still needed if the promise of the first Article - All human beings are born free and equal - is to be realised.
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